WASHINGTON — A Florida sheriff is among the newly appointed members of a bipartisan council tasked with overhauling the nation’s emergency management system. President Donald Trump announced the appointments to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Review Council, which he established earlier in 2025 through an executive order.
The council, co-chaired by Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, is responsible for streamlining FEMA’s disaster response and improving operational efficiency.
According to a press release, the FEMA Review Council’s mission is to improve operational efficiency and ensure that FEMA delivers swift, effective, and purpose-driven relief to Americans during times of crisis.
The appointed members are:
- Co-Chair: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
- Co-Chair: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
- Greg Abbott, governor, state of Texas
- Phil Bryant, former governor, state of Mississippi
- Jane Castor, mayor, City of Tampa, Florida
- Mark Cooper, former chief of staff, governor John Bel Edwards
- Rosie Cordero-Stutz, sheriff, Miami-Dade County
- Evan Greenberg, CEO, Chubb Limited
- Kevin Guthrie, executive director, Florida Division of Emergency Management
- W. Nim Kidd, chief, Texas Division of Emergency Management
- Michael Whatley, chairman, Republican National Committee
- Glenn Youngkin, governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
- Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Region 9 administrator and two-time acting administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
On January 24, 2025, Trump established the Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency through Executive Order 14180. The FEMA Review Council is tasked with advising the president — through the National Security Advisor, the Homeland Security Advisor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget — on FEMA’s current capacity to effectively and impartially respond to disasters in the United States. The council will also recommend reforms to ensure FEMA serves the national interest as efficiently as possible.
